Posted by:
Janine Anderson on
October 31, 2007 at
8:47AM CST
With a baby coming in about a week, we're starting to think about how to make the trips (both short and long) that come with the holiday season.
We'll have a three-week-old baby for Thanksgiving, and we're planning an overnight stay with family for that one. There's far away (read: New Jersey) family that we'd like to bring the baby to visit within the first few months, and then there's the family frenzy of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Anyone have any tips on what to bring, what not to bring, and how to make car and airplane travel easy with a newborn?
Posted by: TinainNC on October 31, 2007 12:00PM CST
Most pediatricians suggest that babies not travel until they are at least 6 weeks old and have had their vaccinations. I don't think I'd take a small infant on an airplane for at least 6 months. Maybe it's just me, but the spreading of germs and sickness among infants scares me to death. I didn't take my daughter out of the house until she was almost 2 months old and then only a few people were allowed to hold her and they definately didn't hold her until their hands were washed and if they were sick or just getting over something, I'd tell them to please stay away.
Posted by: sisterbelle on October 31, 2007 6:22PM CST
If this is your first baby, after it's born maybe you'll want to stay home this year. You have your own little family now. Next year do the relative thing.
Janine - don't let family pressure you into traveling too much over the holidays. Try and do one place Christmas Eve. One place Christmas Day. The back and fort between houses gets frantic, will probably screw up the baby's schedule and make him cranky. Also, always be prepared - especially during an overnight trip, such as Thanksgiving. Pack an extra outfit, nursing pads/bottle, extra blanket, diapers, wipes, etc. Because baby's always seem to know when it will be most inconvienent to spit up or be unusually hungry. I tend to agree with others as far as airplane travel. I would wait until the baby is at least 9 to 12 months. You could always go on a road trip if you don't want to wait!
Posted by: Parivrajaka on November 1, 2007 1:08PM CST
Bottles are more challenging to deal with on bus/air/train travel (especially recently with DHS's restrictions based on a theoretical understanding of a U.K. terrorist hoax) Check the latest regulations.
Breastfeeding can work on buses, trains and planes (if you don't run into to many puritans or other anti breastfeeding fanatics such as Madonna. But breastfeeding is very challenging for long distance car travel, figure on hour long stops every hour or so.
I don't recommend long distance car travel for babies less than 2 months old. If you must, try to find a car seat that allows the baby to lie flat. It was recently found that compression of their floppy body in car seats which force them to be upright can cause breathing difficulties. Even if you're bottle feeding, stop often, change the diapers often, apply plenty of rash cream.
Babies 6 months old travel can reasonably well, even in long flights they sleep often and don't need to be constantly entertained as older children must. Make sure the baby has shots necessary for whatever country you're visiting and if possible, carry your own water for bottle fed baby formula.
If your baby is healthy and you are comfortable, you should be able to leave the house. Our baby traveled very far in her first few years of life and did extremely well. One thing a friend of mine noticed is that when a baby (8 months old and up) is exposed to a new environment, new friends or family members he/she hasn't seen, they seem to go through a burst of development. I've noticed the same. I wish you a gentle birth and safe and happy journeys afterwards.
Posted by: Parivrajaka on November 2, 2007 3:37PM CST
Oh yes if you go by plane, or go through mountains by car, time it so baby can be feeding or sucking on something during decent in order to equalize their ears.
Leave a Message
Leave a Comment
Request a Friend
